Catecholamine levels in penicillin-induced epileptic focus of the cat cerebral cortex

In 25 cats an unilateral epileptic focus was produced by intracortical injection of potassium benzyl penicillin and on the other hemisphere, sham-operation was done by injection of the same volume of saline solution without penicillin. Catecholamine analysis was performed for each hemisphere separately. In a second series of 15 cats, the effect of catecholamines and of 1-DOPA on penicillin-induced spike activity was examined. In the first and second stage of propagation of penicillin-induced spikes, dopamine and norepinephrine significantly decreased in the focus. In the third stage no differences existed. The penicillin-induced spike activity was reduced as well by the topical application of dopamine as of 1-DOPA, whilst no inhibitory effect was observed in the topical application of norepinephrine.

Inhibitory effect of beta-hydroxyglutamic acid on a molluscan giant neurone

We found a spontaneously firing neurone, inhibited by beta-hydroxy(erythro)-L-glutamic acid, identified in the subesophageal ganglia of an African giant snail (Achatina fulica Férussac), although this neurone is not sensitive to L-glutamic acid. We suggest that beta-hydroxy(erythro)-L-glutamic acid may be a putative inhibitory synaptic transmitter of the identified molluscan neurone.

[Clinical application of synthetic LH-RH for anovular women unresponsive to clomiphene therapy (author's transl)]

The purpose of this study is to clarify the significance of synthetic LH-RH (RH) as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of anovular women who fail to respond to clomiphene therapy.

METHODS

Fifteen women with hypofunction of the hypothalamus-pituitary system who were given the RH-test were divided into two groups according to the maximum increased level of LH shown by each. Group I consisting of 7 women who showed increased levels of over 20miu/ml received a combination of clomid+estrogen+RH(C.E.R). Blood levels of LH, FSH and estradiol were measured in each. Group II consisting of 8 women who showed maximum levels of LH below 20 miu/ml received RH intramuscularly, 100 mug per day for 20 to 30 days (referred to as RH treatment). The RH-test was performed in this group before treatment, and 1, 7 and 21 days after treatment. Blood levels of estradiol were also determined before, during and after treatment.

RESULTS

1) Ovulation occurred in 5 of the 7 women in group 1 and 3 became pregnant. The LH surge was prolonged and hormonal secretion increased with administration of C.E.R.. The normal estrogen surge and gonadotropin surge occurring in the ovulatory cycle were thus produced artificially. Since administration of clomiphene alone tends to produce insufficiency of cervical mucus secretion because of its anti-estrogen effect, the addition of estrogen to the combination of C.E.R. probably increases the cervical secretion of mucus and enhances the probability of impregnation. 2) Compared to pretreatment levels, RH treatment clearly increased the pituitary secretion of LH and FSH. Even 3 weeks after RH treatment, the pituitary secretion of gonadotropin was definitely higher than before treatment. Fluctuations in blood levels of estradiol during and after treatment were not significantly different than before treatment. These observations would suggest that prolonged administration of RH enhances the gonadotropic function of the pituitary, not only in the secretion of the hormones but also in the synthesis of gonadotropin. Judging from the insignificant effect on the blood level of estradiol, it would appear that RH itself possesses the ability to produce gonadotropin.

Ovarian response to exogenously administered human gonadotropins during the postpartum period

Eighteen normal puerperal women received a combined administration of human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and the ovarian response to these human gonadotropins was evaluated by the daily estimation of the 24 hour urinary excretion of total estrogens. Fourteen of the 18 subjects studied were responsive to the exogenously administered gonadotropins with a rise in the urinary estrogen excretion. Moreover, plasma follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels during the postpartum period were low compared to normal cycle gonadotropin levels. Thus, it might be concluded that puerperal anovulation and amenorrhea during lactation might be due to hypophyseal gonadotropic dysfunction rather than to ovarian refractoriness.